Electric plug connecter



Nov. 17, 1936.

ELECTRIC PLUG CONNECTER Filed Aug. 15, 1929 INVENTOR Fly. 7 BY ATTORNEYS E. 0. ERICSON 2,

Patented cv. i7, 193

are FLUG commc'raa Edward 0. Ericson, Cleveland Heightsfflhio Application Ant 15, 1929, Serial N0. 386,049

2 Claims. (oi. ire-s61) Connecters such as are employed for portable electric devices, are customarily of molded composition, and are subject to the objection of breakability, such difliculty occasioning more or less annoyance and delay and in some instances danger. Where the contactprongs are secured by riveting moreover, theleverage is often such as to spring the prong out of alignment, thus resulting in annoyance to the user, and frequently breakage in efiorts at straightening. A construction avoiding such difilculties, and making possible a durable and well-sealed connecter is accordingly of fundamental importance and h hly desirable.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists ofthe features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting 9 forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such being illustrative however of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

5 Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view of a connecter in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a-modification; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are axial sectional views of modified forms, portions being'broken away; and Fig. 9 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a-connecter having a shell 2 with an opening 3 to receive the conductor cable or cord. While the shape of the shell may vary considerably, ordinarily a generally conoidal form is desirable, the cord-admitting opening being at the apex end. For the further protection of the cord adjacent the point of entry, I contemplate in some instances applying also an extension sleeve l of flexible character. Prefer ably, this is in the form of a soft rubber extension, and where theentire shell 2 is made up of soft rubber or cushion rubber, as isusually desirable, such sleeve may be an integral extension from the apex end of the shell member. For ease of handling, it is desirable also in most cases to shape the end of the shell with a finger-grip.

enlargement 8. V

Where the entire shell is made up of cushion rubber, the inlet opening for the cord will afford resiliency'such as' to' effectively seal against the cord, thereby preventing chance entry of moisture. If the ll be made of material other cushion rubber, a rubber bushing may be employed if desired to effect such sealing. I

For relieving the conductor cable or cord of strain onto the contact connections in event that the cord be forcibly pulled, strain-relieving 5 means may be incorporated with the cord, a ledge 'or internal shoulder 6 being desirably provided for .this purpose within the shell, and the cord may be knotted so as to engage thereagainst, or

a washer I may be carried on the cord and re- 10 tained by a knot therein, or a ring I may be clamped tightly upon the cable or cord such as to seat against the shoulder 6 when drawn back into normal position.

The contact prongs B, of suitable metal, for

ing block with the prongs anchored thereto, a.

highly advantageous separable unit is had, permitting changes, repairs or renewals without requirement of scrapping the entire shell also. Additional means to prevent relative turning may be provided if desired, as for instance a groove on one member to receive a projection of the other member. For example, the projection 20 may be on the prong-carrying block, and the groove or recess in the shell. I further contemplate sealing the device by engagement of the prong-carrying block with the shell, such as to exclude moisture, dirt, etc. Where the shell is of cushion rubber, a lip or inwardly directed ledge iii may be provided near the end of the shell such that the contact carrying block 9 may be shoved into the end of the shell and snapped back of the slightly resilient lip and be held tightly therebeyond. In the event of necessity of removal, the point of a screw driver or the like can be forced down in between the block and the shell to allow of prying action and the block may be lifted up and out. The precise form of the interengaging surfaces of the block and the shell may of course vary, and as shown for instance 'inFig. ,'the prong-carrying block may have a bead E2 to seat into a corresponding groove. in the shell. 0r vice versa, as in Fig. 5, the bead 112' may be provided on the shell, and the groove on the block 8d. Where the shell is made up of nonresilient material, a screw threaded engagement, as in Fig. 6, may be provided, the block 9? and the shell 2] being respectively screw threaded. Or, the shell may be threaded externally, as in Fig. 7, a cap it being correspondingly screw threaded to engage the shell 2g, the cap it having an inwardly directed flange it to overlie the prong-carrying block to.

1 Again, if desired, a bayonet-type of engagement the electric cable or cord C is inserted through the opening 3 of the shell and is drawn through sumciently to allow the manipulation of knotting or applying the strain-=carrying element or abutment, and the ends of the conductors are secured to the respective inner ends of the prongs 8 bysuitabie means, as for instance, screws ill. The prong-carrying block is now moved back. into position within the shell, snapping hack into place if the shell be of elastic material, or Iselng screw thrcadedly or rotativeiy' positioned in the case of the non-resilient material shellac At the same time, the cord is drawn leach, ta ng out the slash to the point of engagemen etween the strain-carrying element and the li shell. The plug is new efi'ectively sea (Ether modes of applying the pri aoemeo invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details disclosed, provided the means stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employech Itherefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An electric plug connector, consisting of a plurality of metal prong members formed at one end as plug jacks and having at the other end terminals to receive conductor wires, an elastic hollow rubber support-body and means received in said hollow body for spacing and anchoring said metal prongs, including a block embedding and enclosing said metal prongs with the jack ends projecting from one side and the terminals projecting from the other side of said block, the thickness of said block being sufi'icient to anchor said prongs to said block, the terminal ends thickness of said hloclr being sumcient to an-' chor said prongs to said block, the terminal ends of said prong members standing free within the hollow chamber of the support body, and wedging means on block for spreading the supportbody for entry or" the block when assembled,

EDWARD Q. ERICSCIL 

